RIP: MJ- A Child star without a childhood

The King of Pop of my generation has died.

For Singaporeans of my generation who are wedged between the “Baby Boomers and Gen X”, MJ best personifies our childhood and teenage years.

Perhaps only the Bee Gees had as much impact on my life.

I grew up following MJ firstly as one of the Jackson Five and later when he went solo.

I collected MJ’s albums initially as “LP records” then as audio-cassettes and finally as CD’s. Although many of my earlier collectibles were bootleg versions, my admiration for Michael’s contribution to the music scene was genuine.

I was at the National Stadium when he last performed live in Singapore.

Fortuitously, the news about his tragic personal affairs broke into the public domain soon after that. I then understood why Michael cried at the stage in Kallang.

Even now, my generation still considers him as a “misunderstood manchild” and does not pay much credence to alleged accusations of paedophila.

He was just a child who never grew up.

We laughed to ourselves when we heard how he spent millions at luxury toystores, when he built Neverneverland in pursuit of his lost childhood and even when he denied ever having several badly performed plastic surgeries.

Michael, a bit of me dies with you.

Finally Michael, you are the man.

Dr.Huang Shoou Chyuan